Kinetoscope.



E. P. HOPKINS.

KINETOSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

- Patented May 28, 1912'.

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E. P. HOPKINS.

KINETOSCOPE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

1,027,731. Patented May 28, 1912.

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EDWARD P. HOPKINS, UFNEW YORK, N. Y....ASSGNOR- TO- THOMS AEDISONf'INCORf PORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW'` JERSEY, A COROBATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mary 28,1912.

Application led .August 24, 1911 Serial No, 645,867.

useiil'v improvements in Kineteseopes, of

'lamp is likely to become ignited'.

section-on line 3, 8 of Fig. Q.

which theffollovving )is a description.v A

My invention relates to kinetoseopes, and

patieularlv to the provision ,of ay screen for protecting the moving picture hn Whch, in the present state of the art, is composed principally of Celluloid, and which, when stationary or moving at a slow rate of; speed, and subjected to the heat ot' the projecting My `invention comprises a movable screen orlsh'iitter situated back of the projection aperture and'improved means operated by thetilm driving mechanism for moving said screen soon as the driving mechanism reaches a predetermined speed, whereby the projecting 'light will be admitted to the film, said means causing theshutter to close when the speed of the film is Aless than a. given rate. The improved shutter and actuating means. therefor are preferably all mounted upon the usual gate which forms apart of linetoseopes'nowv on the market, the arrangement being such that when the gate is open for the purpose of threadingthe ilm through the apparatus, Vthe shutter actuating 'mechanism isi-'disengaged from the film driving mechanism and is brought into engagement therewith by the closing of the gate, it not being necessary to remove any parts in order to permit the gate to be swung on its hinge.'

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is hereby made tothe accompanying drawing.; in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ot a kineto scope of the Edison type having attached thereto an automatic tlm protecting.; screen and actuating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a, rear elevation showing the screen with its actuating mechanism and the gate upon which-1t is mounted, and Fig. 3 a

The' kinetoscope shown comprises the usual body a onwhichis mountedthe adjustable frame which carries the il'mv driving mechanism of which the gear train .c`,ri,e^, f forms a part. rfhere is also .a .ga-te 1 which is hinged to the frame o by means ot' a VrodV 2 passing through apertures in the lugs 3, 3', which are integral with the said gate. The gate 1 is provided with the usual projecf tion aperture 4C opposite the Vcorresponding projection aperture in the body! of the kinetoscope. Theautomatic filml protecting screen 5, -Which'is preferably a sheet-of aluminum, isl secured to and depends from 'a horizontal rock shaft 6 which is journaled 1n lugs 7 formed integrally with the gate 1.

One end ot the shaft extends 'beyondits bearing and carries anarm 8, a sun gear 9 and gear 10, the said arm .being rigid with the shaft. The sun gear 9 is formed with a' sleeve or hub 9a which is journaled on the shaft 6, andthe gear 10 is mounted on one end of said. hub, the hub being secured against lateral movement by a pin 9b.

The arm' 8 carries at one end av lsleevell in which is j ournaled a shaft 12. Upon one end of this shaft a fan 13 is secured by a setscrew 14 and a planet gear 15, also rigid` with said shaft 12, meshes with the sun gear 9. The other end 4ot' the shaft 1Q is provided with a cap 16 secured byf a Aset screw 17, whereby the said shaft is heldv against longitudinal shifting. The end' of the arm 8 opposite that which carries the sleeve 11 acts as a counterweight for the parts carried by t-he said sleeve. The pivotal movement ot the screen 5 is limited byv means of ay spring' 18 secured at one end to the gate l by a screw 19.

The device operates as follows: When the gate 1 is swung upon its hinge into a closed position, the gear 10 is brought into'mesh with lhegjear shown in Fig. l, thetgate being held by the usual latch f7, Fig. Q. 'lhc rotation of the gearvf, when the kinetoscope is operated in the usual manner by the driving crank 7i, causes rotation to be 1m-` parted to said gears 10 and 9. The latter causes the rapid rotation of the gear 15, shaft 'l2 and tan,..1'.` The fan offers a sub- ,stantial resistance to the rotation of the gear 15 and shaft 12. -By reason of said resistance, the gear 15, which is mounted as `planet gear with. respect to thesun gear 9 ridesup around the same from the position shown in full lines, Fig. 3, to that shown in dotted lines, thereby moving the arm 8, and

that suitable for the exhibition of the pic-l 1 tures on the film. .In case said speed falls below the given rate or theA operator ceases to drive the mechanism, the 'force of gravity restores the parts to their original positions, in which case the screen 5 closes the opening v 4 in the gate .and cuts off the projecting light from the `film. The movement of the screen 5, shaft 6, arm 8 and parts carried thereby,'is limited by the spring stop 18.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a screen normally covering said` aperture, and mechanism for operating the same comprising a planet'gear and means for offering a substantial resistance to the rotation thereof, substantially as set forth.vk

2. In a kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a screen normally covering said aperture, and mechanism for operating the same comprising a planet gear and a fan `for offering a substantial resistance to the .rotation thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. In a kinetoscope provided with aprojection aperture, a pivotal screen normally covering said aperture, and mechanism for operating the same comprising a sun gear concentric with the pivotl of the screen, an arm connected to said screen and a. planet gear mounted on said arm, substantially as set forth.

4. In a kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a pivotal screen normally covering said aperture, and mechanism for operating the same comprising a sun gear concentric with the' pivot of the screen, an

arm connected to said screen, a planet vgear mounted on said arm, and means for oEering a substantial resistance to the rotation of said planet gear, substantially as set forth.'

5. Ina kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a pivotal screen normally covering said aperture, and mechanism for operating the same comprising a sun gear concentric with the pivot of the screen, an arm connected to said screen, a planet gear mounted on said arm, and a Afan for offering a substantial resistance to the rotatioifr of said planet gear, substantially as set forth.

6. In a kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a rock shaft, a screen depending therefrom and coveringsaid aperture, an arm and a sun gear on, said rock shaft,ja planet gear mounted on said arm en- V8. In a device of the character described, y

a rock shaft, an arm rigid therewith, a sun gear journaled on said shaft, and a-planet gear carried by said arm and meshing with said sun gear, substantially as s et forth;

9. In a kinetoscope, a frame, a gate hinged thereto and carrying a rock shaft, anarm. rigid therewith, a sun gear journaled on saidl and meshing with said sunl gear, substantially as set forth.

10. In a kinetoscope, a frame carrying. film driving mechanism, a gate hinged thereto and carrying a screen and actuatingfmechanism thereforV comprising a rock shaft, an arm rigid therewith, a sun gear ournaled on' said shaft', and a planet gear carried by said arm and meshing with said sun gear, said -screen actuating mechanism being so arranged as to be connected in driven relation gate is closed, substantially as set forth.

11. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, an apertured gate hinged thereto, a screen mounted on said gate and normally l shaft, and a planet gear carried by said arm lto `said film driving mechanism when the positioned to close the aperture therein, revoluble means for feeding a picture film past said aperture, a rotary fan adapted to be operated by said feeding means, and a connection between said fan and said screen whereby said screen. will be removed from said aperture when the film feeding mechanism has attained a predetermined speed, substantially as set forth. I

12. The combination with a rotary shaft of a moving picture machine, of a sun and planet gear driven bysaid rotaryv shaft, and ascreen connected to said planet gear and moved out of its closed position whenever the planet gear is driven at a predetermined speed substantially as set forth.

13. The combinationwith a rotary shaft of a moving picture machine, of a sun and planetn gear driven by said rotary shaft, a fan driven by said planet gear and a screen connected to said planet gear and moved out of its closed position whenever the planet gear is driven at a predetermined speed, subthe screen including a Sun and planet gaan ThiS specification signed and witnessed the smid screen :md the sun and planet gear this 17th day of August 1911. being mounted 011 and carried by the sind l FDVARD P. HOPKN gute, and 1111111151 iol operating sind S1111 gen1* l l s located to mesh with th@ gem' Of the H1111 VmlesseS: drivlng meczhamsn'i when 111e gate 1S 111 closed HENRY C. KENNEDY position, subst-111111211131113 Setforth. CHARLES J.K1NTN1-1R. 

